Everyone at Russellville City Hall agreed Thursday night that the city's police officers and firefighters deserve and need salary raises, but disagreement was voiced on some of the options how to fund them.

One option - let the voters decide on the November general election ballot on a two-mill property tax to fund city employee raises - was voted down 5-3 by the Russellville City Council. Aldermen did vote to take more time to analyze proposals by Police Chief James Bacon and Fire Chief Dennis Miller at a Personnel Committee meeting at 10 a.m. Monday at City Hall.

City Attorney Trey Smith drew up four proposed ordinances for the council to vote on in case their wish was to get something on the November ballot. They were:

Tax Ordinance A, Part 1 of 2: levies a two-mill property tax;

Tax Ordinance A, Part 2 of 2: calls for a special election for a two-mill property tax;

Tax Ordinance B, Part 1: Levies a one-eighth percent sales and use tax;

Tax Ordinance B, Part 2 of 2: Calls for a special election of one-eighth percent sales and use tax.

After the chiefs, policemen, firefighters and citizens gave their opinions, Alderman Ronnie Tripp made a motion to read Tax Ordinance A, Part 1 of 2, by title or brief description only in order to put it to the voters in November. The motion, which needed six votes to pass, was voted down by Aldermen Paul Gray, Cliff Kirchner and Andrea Lea.

Kirchner pointed out that neither the Personnel Committee nor the full council had looked at a proposal for non-uniform city employees submitted by human resources director Audra Samuels. That proposal will be reviewed as well by the Personnel Committee on Monday.

While many voiced their approval of a two-mill property tax increase for city property owners to fund an across-the-board salary restructuring for all city employees, one former firefighter said the council had its chances before, but instead did nothing.

"I see a lot of faces out here that I've spent a lot of time with this summer - firefighters, police officers," Alderman Paul Gray said. "I'm tired of looking them in the eye. We can't give them what they deserve. For the average homeowner, it will cost a tank of gas. I can't stand by and not do something. I'm willing to do it, and I live on a teacher's salary.

"This is an investment. Our people are the future of our city. This is an investment in our future. Our kids don't stay here anymore. They move off because there's nothing here. Kids who graduate from Tech and who have trade degrees don't stay here. Potential employers look at schools and safety. We can sure as heck do something about safety, and the future of our city."

"The fire chief and I have worked on this together, for about two months, to get where we are," Bacon said. "We've got to have a vision for these officers, this department and this city. Taxes are the hardest thing to pass, I won't deny that a bit. But do we put a lower level of officer on the street? This is important to our entire city."

"We've been fortunate with some of the people we've been able to hire over the past five years," Miller added. "It's very important for our firemen and our policemen to have something for them to look forward to. I think we just owe it to them. I think this proposal's a good one."

"Gosh, this is hard. I spent 20 years in the fire department, but I can't say raise taxes," said Robert McCready. "you guys [council members] have had many chances since April 2003. Nothing has been done. You had the revenue task force, before that a blue ribbon commission, so on and so forth.

"I'm sorry to say you people did not do anything the past two years. When it comes down to that position, it seems that it's always been 'let's raise taxes.' It would have been different if you had tried something, but you didn't. A lot of huffing and puffing, but nothing gets done. Let's get something done before we say taxes. You guys have done nothing. I'm sorry."

Russellville Police Sgt. J.J. Smith, also the local Fraternal Order of Police chapter president, noted that a two-mill property tax would cost approximately $40 a year on a homeowner of an estimated $100,000 residence, and about $20 a year on a homeowner of an estimated $50,000 residence.

Russellville Fire Lt. Mark Signor cautioned aldermen to decide what will happen when a property or sales and use tax initiative isn't approved by voters, which would now only happen during a special election.